Napoleon McCallum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Napoleon McCallum

No. 34, 41
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1963-10-06) October 6, 1963 (age 62) Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:	Milford (Milford, Ohio)
College:	Navy (1981–1985)
NFL Draft:	1986 / Round: 4 / Pick: 108
Career history
Los Angeles Raiders (1986) San Diego Chargers (1989) Los Angeles Raiders (1990)
Career highlights and awards
2× Consensus All-American (1983, 1985) First-team All-East (1983) Navy Midshipmen No. 30 retired
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 790 Rushing average: 3.5 Rushing touchdowns: 6 Receptions: 17 Receiving yards: 121
Player stats at PFR
College Football Hall of Fame

Napoleon Ardel McCallum (born October 6, 1963) is a former American football running back. He played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). McCallum first became famous playing college football for the Navy Midshipmen. He later played for the Los Angeles Raiders in the NFL. For his amazing college career, he was welcomed into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life and High School

Napoleon McCallum was born in Jefferson City, Missouri. His parents were both teachers. He grew up in a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, and went to Milford High School.

In his last year of high school, McCallum was a star player for the Eagles football team. He played both running back on offense and defensive back on defense. He rushed for 1,625 yards, scored 17 touchdowns, and made 12 interceptions. His great performance earned him many awards.

College Football at the U.S. Naval Academy

Many top colleges, like Syracuse and the Tennessee, wanted McCallum to play for them. However, they wanted him as a defensive back. McCallum wanted to be a running back, so he chose to go to the U.S. Naval Academy.

At Navy, he was the star tailback, punt returner, and kick returner. He was so good that he was chosen as a consensus All-American player twice. This means most experts agreed he was one of the best college players in the country. He set a record for the most all-purpose yards in a career with 7,172. All-purpose yards include rushing, receiving, and return yards combined.

McCallum at a Navy practice session.

He was also Navy's all-time leading rusher with 4,179 yards. This record stood for 30 years until Keenan Reynolds broke it in 2015. In 2003, McCallum was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his incredible achievements at Navy.

College Career Statistics

President Ronald Reagan meets with Napoleon McCallum in the Oval Office.

Professional Football Career

Playing for the Raiders and Serving in the Navy

After graduating from the Naval Academy, McCallum was drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1986. Because he was still in the Navy, he was assigned to a ship based in California. This allowed him to play for the Raiders while still on active duty. In his first season, he rushed for 536 yards, sharing playing time with star running back Marcus Allen.

In 1987, the Navy assigned McCallum to a ship that was sailing in the Indian Ocean. This meant he could not play in the NFL that year. After finishing his five years of service with the Navy, he returned to the Raiders in 1990. He mostly played on special teams and in short-yardage situations. In a 1993 playoff game against the Denver Broncos, he showed his skill by rushing for three touchdowns.

Career-Ending Injury

On September 5, 1994, McCallum's football career came to a sudden and tragic end. During a game against the San Francisco 49ers, a player tackled him, and his left leg got stuck in the turf. His knee was severely dislocated, bending backwards in a way it should not.

The injury was very serious. He tore three ligaments and damaged an artery, nerves, and muscles in his leg. Doctors told him the injury was so bad that he would never be able to play football again. They said an injury like his was usually only seen in major car accidents. Thankfully, surgery was successful, and he did not lose his leg.

Life After Football

In 1996, McCallum moved to Henderson, Nevada. He started a computer graphics company and also enjoys playing golf. He later sold his business and now works for the Las Vegas Sands Corp, a company that owns casinos and resorts. He and his wife, Yvonne, have four daughters.

McCallum also played a key role in helping the Raiders move to Las Vegas. In 2014, he suggested to the team's owner, Mark Davis, that the team should consider moving to Las Vegas. He helped set up important meetings that led to the building of Allegiant Stadium, the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders.